Device and method for shoe and/or foot scanning with combined electromagnetic wave and inductive scanning capabilities

Abstract

A shoe and/or foot scanner combining electromagnetic wave and inductive scanning capabilities is provided. Said shoe and/or foot scanner comprises at least one electromagnetic wave sensor, at least one inductive sensor, and a control unit. In this context, the at least one electromagnetic wave sensor and the at least one inductive sensor are arranged such that the at least one electromagnetic wave sensor and the at least one inductive sensor have at least one overlapping detection volume and/or area. In addition to this, the control unit is configured to evaluate the corresponding sensor measurements from the at least one electromagnetic wave sensor and the at least one inductive sensor for at least a part or each of the at least one overlapping detection volume and/or area to determine an overall threat probability.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A shoe and/or foot scanner combining electromagnetic wave and inductive scanning capabilities, comprising:
 at least one electromagnetic wave sensor,   at least one inductive sensor, and   a control unit,   wherein the at least one electromagnetic wave sensor and the at least one inductive sensor are arranged such that the at least one electromagnetic wave sensor and the at least one inductive sensor have at least one overlapping detection volume and/or area, and   wherein the control unit is configured to evaluate the corresponding sensor measurements from the at least one electromagnetic wave sensor and the at least one inductive sensor for at least a part or each of the at least one overlapping detection volume and/or area to determine an overall threat probability.   
     
     
         2 . The shoe and/or foot scanner according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the control unit is configured to decide whether there is an alarm to be reported based on the overall threat probability.   
     
     
         3 . The shoe and/or foot scanner according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the control unit is configured to determine at least one individual threat probability based on the corresponding sensor measurements from the at least one electromagnetic wave sensor.   
     
     
         4 . The shoe and/or foot scanner according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the control unit is configured to determine at least one further individual threat probability based on the corresponding sensor measurements from the at least one inductive sensor.   
     
     
         5 . The shoe and/or foot scanner according to  claim 3 ,
 wherein if at least a part or each of the at least one individual threat probability is inconclusive, the control unit is configured to combine at least the part or each of the at least one individual threat probability with at least a part or each of at least one further individual threat probability based on the corresponding sensor measurements from the at least one inductive sensor especially to get at least one conclusive threat probability.   
     
     
         6 . The shoe and/or foot scanner according to  claim 4 ,
 wherein if at least a part or each of the at least one further individual threat probability is inconclusive, the control unit is configured to combine at least the part or each of the at least one further individual threat probability with at least a part or each of at least one individual threat probability based on the corresponding sensor measurements from the at least one electromagnetic wave sensor especially to get at least one further conclusive threat probability.   
     
     
         7 . The shoe and/or foot scanner according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the control unit is configured to use machine learning and/or artificial intelligence and/or at least one artificial neural network to identify the correspondingly scanned object and/or materials especially based on the corresponding sensor measurements from the at least one electromagnetic wave sensor and/or the at least one inductive sensor.   
     
     
         8 . The shoe and/or foot scanner according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the control unit is configured to infer an amount of metal and/or shape with respect to the correspondingly scanned object and/or materials especially based on the corresponding sensor measurements from the at least one electromagnetic wave sensor and/or the at least one inductive sensor.   
     
     
         9 . The shoe and/or foot scanner according to  claim 8 ,
 wherein the control unit is configured to correlate the amount of metal and shape with respect to the correspondingly scanned object and/or materials especially by using machine learning and/or artificial intelligence and/or at least one artificial neural network preferably to identify the correspondingly scanned object and/or materials.   
     
     
         10 . The shoe and/or foot scanner according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein at least a part or each of the at least one electromagnetic wave sensor comprises or is at least one millimeter-wave transceiver, and/or   wherein at least a part or all of the at least one electromagnetic wave sensor forms a millimeter-wave transceiver array or a millimeter-wave panel.   
     
     
         11 . The shoe and/or foot scanner according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein at least a part or each of the at least one inductive sensor comprises or is at least one coil, especially at least one metal detection coil.   
     
     
         12 . The shoe and/or foot scanner according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the control unit comprises or is a controller or an application-specific integrated circuit, especially an application-specific integrated circuit acquisition unit.   
     
     
         13 . The shoe and/or foot scanner according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the shoe and/or foot scanner is used in the context of security areas such as airport security.   
     
     
         14 . A method for shoe and/or foot scanning, the method combining electromagnetic wave and inductive scanning capabilities and comprising the steps of:
 arranging at least one electromagnetic wave sensor and at least one inductive sensor such that the at least one electromagnetic wave sensor and the at least one inductive sensor have at least one overlapping detection volume and/or area, and   evaluating the corresponding sensor measurements from the at least one electromagnetic wave sensor and the at least one inductive sensor for at least a part or each of the at least one overlapping detection volume and/or area to determine an overall threat probability especially with the aid of a control unit.   
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 14 ,
 wherein the method further comprises the step of:   deciding whether there is an alarm to be reported based on the overall threat probability especially with the aid of the control unit.   
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 14 ,
 wherein the method further comprises the step of:   determining at least one individual threat probability based on the corresponding sensor measurements from the at least one electromagnetic wave sensor especially with the aid of the control unit.   
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 14 ,
 wherein the method further comprises the step of:   determining at least one further individual threat probability based on the corresponding sensor measurements from the at least one inductive sensor especially with the aid of the control unit.   
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 16 ,
 wherein the method further comprises the step of:   if at least a part or each of the at least one individual threat probability is inconclusive, preferably with the aid of the control unit, combining at least the part or each of the at least one individual threat probability with at least a part or each of at least one further individual threat probability based on the corresponding sensor measurements from the at least one inductive sensor especially to get at least one conclusive threat probability.   
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 17 ,
 wherein the method further comprises the step of:   if at least a part or each of the at least one further individual threat probability is inconclusive, preferably with the aid of the control unit, combining at least the part or each of the at least one further individual threat probability with at least a part or each of at least one individual threat probability based on the corresponding sensor measurements from the at least one electromagnetic wave sensor especially to get at least one further conclusive threat probability.   
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 14 ,
 wherein the method further comprises the step of:   preferably with the aid of the control unit, using machine learning and/or artificial intelligence and/or at least one artificial neural network to identify the correspondingly scanned object and/or materials especially based on the corresponding sensor measurements from the at least one electromagnetic wave sensor and/or the at least one inductive sensor.